Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 17 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Two sides, one motion): Motion: the statement being debated, often starting “This House believes…” or “This House would…”. Proposition: for the motion, speaks first, defines the key words, ends “I beg to propose”. Opposition: against it, answers the proposition, ends “I beg to oppose”. Good debate topics for students have two real sides; a plain fact is not debatable.

1. 1.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is for the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
4. 4.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to oppose” (d) must prove the motion
7. 7.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would give every class a pet.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
8. 8.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
9. 9.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) may test the definition (d) must disprove the motion
11. 11.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) defines the key words
12. 12.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the audience (c) the judges (d) the proposition
13. 13.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
14. 14.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the winner’s prize (b) the timekeeper (c) the topic statement (d) the last speech
16. 16.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
17. 17.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
18. 18.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
19. 19.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: “This House believes ice is frozen water.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
22. 22.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) is for the motion
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defines the key words (b) may test the definition (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
25. 25.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to propose”
26. 26.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
27. 27.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a triangle has three sides.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a cricket team has eleven players.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
31. 31.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) answers the proposition (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) is against the motion
32. 32.True or false: “This House would make cooking a school subject.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.📜 A good motion must have… (a) no clear meaning (b) one right answer (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
34. 34.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “This House would make homework optional.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) is against the motion (c) must prove the motion (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) is against the motion (c) may test the definition (d) speaks first
38. 38.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is against the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) may test the definition
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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